Coop.



J. P. MANN.

COOP.

APBLIGATION FILED APR.15,1909.

Patented Deb. 28, 1909.

JOHN P. MANN, OF ENNIS, TEXAS.

COOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

Application filed April 15, 1909. Serial No. 490,102.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN P. MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ennis, in the county of Ellis and State of Texas, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Coops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in coops for the reception of fowls or the like, and is particularly directed to a folding coop with sections so constructed and arranged as to adapt the coop to be collapsed and folded into a comparatively small readily transportable package.

The main obj ect of the invention is to provide a device of this character having its sides and ends adapted to fold inwardly when in a collapsed position, with suitable handles arranged upon the top of the coop, said handles being provided with a depending pintle having its extremity provided with an offset finger which is adapted to engage an eye upon the end of the coop when the coop is set up and which is also adapted to engage a lip provided by an upstanding member positioned upon the base of the coop when the coop is in its collapsed position, thus securing the coop in either its raised or folded position.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description progresses the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a foldable coop provided with the improvements. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view showing the manner of securing the ends of the coop when in their upright position. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the coop in its folded position.

In the drawing the numeral 1 designates the base member or bottom of the coop which may be solid or slatted as desired and which is of course to be the size desired in the finished coop. The bottom 1 has its longitudinal edges provided with an elevated strap2 and secured to this strap 2 as at 3 are the side sections 4 of the device. These sections 4 comprise each a pair of members 5 and 6. The said members 5 and 6 are each of an equal width and are hingedly connected together upon their outer faces as indicated by the numerals 7. The upper sections 5 of the sides 4 are provided with suitable hinges 8 upon their upper edges through the medium of which they are hingedly secured to the top 9 of the coop. This top 9 is provided with a suitable door 10 whereby access to the coop is readily obtainable.

'l'he numerals 11 and 12 designate the ends of the coop. These ends 11 and 12 have their lower portions hingedly connected with the base or bottom 1, as at 13 and whereby they may be readily folded inwardly within the coop when desired to collapse the coop. In collapsing the coop after the end members 12 and 13 have been swung inwardly, the members 4 and 5 are bent upon their hinges 7 and are caused to swing inwardly upon the hinges 3 and 8 and the said ends when folded are preferably of a width slightly lesser than one half of the width of the base 1 between the longitudinally extending strips 2.

From the above description it will be noted that the coop may be easily folded into a small and compact package when desired. In order to secure the coop in either its up right or collapsed position as well as afford: ing a ready means for handling the coop when in either position I have provided the top 9 adjacent its outer edge and preferably central thereof with suitable handle members 14. These members 14 are each provided with a downwardly extending stud 15 provided with a collar 16 and adapted to extend through a suitable opening l( provided in the projecting portions of the top 9. The lower extremity of the stud 15 may be provided with a centrally arranged threaded perforation which is adapted for the reception of a suitable headed screw 18, while positioned between this screw 18 and the end of the stud 15 in an offset finger 19. Either the screw 18 or thelower extremity of the stud 19 may be non-circular and the offset finger 19, is adapted to have its body portion also provided with a non-circular opening so that when the screw is tightened upon the stud the finger 19 will be effectively prevented from rotation. The upper edge of the ends 11 and 12 are each provided with a suitable eye 20, which when the ends are swung upwardly is adapted to be brought into the path of the 'ofiset provided upon the finger19 and to engage with the same, thus eflectively securing the ends as well as the sides against danger of collapsing, it of course being understood that the ends are of a width eqaiimg the distaste betwenjt'he strips 2 of the base 1 and the strips provided upon the under face ofthetop It will be further understood that the stud 15 is free to rotate within the opening 16 so that by merely grasping the handle 14L the 1 of the drawings and may have bases offset and perforated for the reception of screws and other means for securing: the same to the extensions of the base and their upper portion given a quarter turn to bring this portion of the member in a direct plane with the ends. The upper portion of the member 21 is incut to provide a lip 22 and the member has its lip positioned a Suitable distance away from the base, so as toallow the sides to be folded and the lip to be positioned directly within the path of the offset finger 19. hen the coop is thus collapsed it will be noted that by merely turning the stud 15 through the medium of the will be brought into engagement with the lip 22 of'tlieinember 21, thus easily and quickly locking the coop in its collapsed position.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new is: The combination with a coop having a top 1 and a bottom and sides and ends adapted to be folded between; the top bottom, an

eye upon each of the ends; anup-right member provided with a depressionforming a lip upon the bottom, handles upon thetop,

apai ri the asset Hngerofthe'said stud each of said handles being provided with a downwardly extend ng, stud hav1ng its extremity provided with an offset finger, said offset finger adapted to engage the eye of the ends when the coop is in its raised position, and said offset finger being also adapted to engage the lip of the upright member upon the base when the coop is init-scoL lapsed position. v

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses. p p JOHN P. MANN. Witnesses E. W. CRUMLEY, JNO. L. STEVENSON. 

